Puzzle



06 5, 1937. WILNER 2,095,046

- PUZZLE Filed Oct. 7, 1935 INVENTOR. LOUIS WILNER 'BY ATTORNEY.

P'atentecl Oct. 5, 1937 UNITED STATES PUZZLE Louis Wilner, New York, N. Y., assignor of onetenth to Jacob D. Levit, New York, N. Y.

Application October '7, 1935, Serial No. 43,807

3 Claims.

This invention relates, in general, to puzzles, and particularly to a new form of puzzle wherein correct solution thereof results in transmission of motion through mechanically interlocked puzzle elements.

The primary object of the invention resides in the provision of a plurality of discs which are adapted to be rotatably associated with a surface of a base-board, in a practically unlimited numberof motion transmission positions; the solution of the puzzle requiring the association of the discs in peripheral contact relation with each other on the board in such a manner that no one disc may be rotated without also rotating the other discs.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a puzzle which is characterized by its inclusion of discs and an endless belt, and which elements may be mechanically coupled for transmission of motion when properly arranged; the puzzle solver during the process of arrangement thereby becoming familiar with some of the laws of rotation and'of gear-trains.

Additional objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following specification and the accompanying drawing in which like reference characters refer to like parts in the,

several views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of the preferred form of the puzzle device,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the device taken along line 2--2 of Fig. l, and looking in the direction of the arrows,

Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary plan views, similar to Fig. 1, showing two modifications of the device,

Fig. 5 illustrates a modified type of disc securing means,

Fig. 6 shows a modified type of disc.

In Fig. 1 the base-board I has bored, or punched, in its face peg-holes 2. Rotatably fixed to the corners of base-board l by means of pegs 3 are discs 4. An endless belt 5, of channel crosssection, connects the discs 4 so that they may be rotated in unison. The channel section of the belt 5 faces inwardly, as shown in Fig. 2, and functions to prevent the belt from slipping off from the discs 4. The board is supplied with a plurality of discs 6, and an equal number of pegs I. The discs 6 all contain axial bores 8. The axial bores B, the shanks of the pegs 1, and the holes 2 in the base-board l are all substantially of the same diameter, as shown in Fig. 2.

The discs 6 can be of equal diameter, or their diameters may vary. The holes 2 in the baseboard I may be regularly, or irregularly spaced.

The discs 6 are adapted to be rotatablyaifixedto the base-board by means of the pegs 1; the latter :passing through the bores 8 into peg-holes 2.

The discs, belt, board, and pegs may be fabricated of any desired material; the latter depending primarily on the 'cost of production of the puzzle.

The solution of the puzzle consists in arranging and fixing the discs 6 on the base-board l in peripheral contact relation to discs i, and'to each other. The mechanical association must be such that by rotating any one disc in the'system, all the other discs will also rotate; the puzzle is capable of many solutions. To eliminate a certain amount of friction, the sections of discs 4 and ii are made slightly thicker at their hubs than at their peripheries; as can be seenin Fig. 12. This provision, however, is not essential to the proper functioning of the device. In Fig. 3 there is shown a modification of the invention in which in place of discs 4 there is substituted the gear 9. The channel belt 5 is replaced by endless chain m; and for discs 6 there are substituted toothed wheels |l., In all other respects, and in the solution of the puzzle and operation thereof, the device is the same as is shown and described for Fig. 1. Of course, gears 9 and Ii and chain H! are matched, so that. the gear teeth will mesh properly with the chain and with each other. Fig. 4 shows another variation of the inventio in which in place of discs 4 there are substituted discs I2 which have peripheral grooves l9. Since the peripheral grooves themselves will maintain the belt in place, instead of the endless belt 5, of channel cross-section, there is utilized an endless belt l3 of a solid cross-section. The numeral IS in Fig. 4 denotes an anti-slip material, as rubber, leather or other like substance, which is applied to the peripheral portions of discs [4. This increases the resistance of the disc-trains to slippage while rotating. The same device may be applied to discs 6.

In order to make the puzzle more commerciallyv attractive the faces of the discs and gears may be decorated in vari-colored designs and diagrams as indicated on the faces of the discs M in Fig. 4. The endless chain, or belt, may be omitted from the puzzle combination; there will still remain an effective and interesting puzzle. Further, the

peg-holes 2 in the base-board I can be eliminated and for peg I there can be substituted the afiixing device'shown in Fig. 5. The dashed circles 2| in Figure 1 indicate the completion of a solution of the puzzle. 7

The device in Fig. 5 consists of a head IS, a

shank portion I1, whose diameter is substantially that of disc bores 8, and a pin l8, By the use of this pin the possible positions of discs 6, I I or I4 on the face of the base-board become unlimited,

since the discs can be located at random and fixed'to the board merely by pressing the pin I8 into the base-board I through bores 8. In Fig. 6 is shown still another form of afiixingmeans for a disc. The boss 'is integral with the disc, and is adapted to register with apertures in the board 2.

V. The invention is not limited to any particular 7 board configuration. There may be used a'triangular, or any other geometrical configuration. Similarly, the term discs is employed as a generic term to include wheelsjof any-n'ature or kind.

Again, the specific mode of mechanical coupling between the rotatable contacting elements is'ca 'pable of wide'variations; those illustrated here are merely given by way of example.

The operation of the puzzle device disclosed by me herein will be readily understood from the V foregoinggdescription, and it will be seen that I have provideda simple, inexpensive and fefiicient means for carrying out the objects of theinvention. Furthermore, .while I have particularly 7 described the' 'elements best adapted to perform the functions set forth, it is obvious that various changes inform, proportion and in minor details of construction may be resorted to without dey parting from the spirit or sacrificing any of the ;prin'ciples'of the invention.

What- I. claim' is:

,1. In a puzzle device, a support board, a pluralityof discs, means for rotatably affixing at least two-of said discs in spaced relation on a face of said board, means mechanically linking said two discs in such a manner that said discs are adapted to rotate in the same directional sense when one I 2. In a puzzle device, a support board provided r=with a plurality of bores, a plurality of discs,

means for rotatably aflixing at least two of said {discs inspaced relation on a face of said board, means comprising a beltdrive mechanically'linkwing -said two discs in such a manner that said discs are adapted to rotate in the same directional sensewhen one of them is rotated, and additional means for rotatably-aflixing a sufficient number of the remainder of said discs to said bores inthe board face, and in; peripheral contact with each other and said twofldiscs, to provide a second mechanical linkage between said two discs such that rotationof anyone ofsaid mechanically linked discs results in: rotation of theothers of the discs in peripheral contact on said face.

3. In combination; a base-board, a pluralityof discs provided with axial bores, and pins to rotatably fasten the discs to said board, through 7 said holes, in peripheral contact with each other, and auxiliary means for constraining the rotation of at least two ofsaid discs to the same direction.

LOUIS WILNER. 

